Patents by Inventor Richard Root Woods
Richard Root Woods has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9169498Abstract: Processes and methods of recovering desired products from fermentation stillage are presented, including processes and methods of recovering lipids and aqueous materials.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2013Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: Edeniq, Inc.Inventors: Richard Root Woods, Vahik Krikorian, Juston Smithers
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Publication number: 20150176034Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for reducing the viscosity of biomass process streams in an ethanol production process. The method comprises adding cellulase enzymes to a biomass feedstock that is fermented to produce ethanol, generating whole stillage and thin stillage streams from the post-fermentation biomass, and adding an additional enzyme or enzyme cocktail that reduces the viscosity of the whole stillage stream, thin stillage stream, concentrated thin stillage stream, and/or the syrup stream generated by evaporating the thin stillage.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2015Publication date: June 25, 2015Inventors: Kristoffer Ramos, Donna Santos, Padmavathy Desai, Prachand Shrestha, Richard Root Woods, Steven Le
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Publication number: 20140315259Abstract: The present application provide methods for producing ethanol from a biomass. The methods combine sugars produced from a feedstock containing starch with sugars produced from a cellulosic biomass. The methods allow increased amounts of ethanol to be produced from a given solids concentration in the fermenters. The methods also encompass filtering the liquefied feedstock mash through a filter comprising biomass fibers. The biomass filter produces a post-filtered mash stream comprising a high concentration of sugars and a low concentration of non-fermentable solids. The methods provide numerous advantages described herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2014Publication date: October 23, 2014Inventors: Richard Root Woods, James Kacmar
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Publication number: 20140220650Abstract: Processes and methods of recovering desired products from fermentation stillage are presented, including processes and methods of recovering lipids and aqueous materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2013Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: Primafuel, Inc.Inventors: Richard Root Woods, Vahik Krikorian, Juston Smithers
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Publication number: 20140206055Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for reducing the viscosity of biomass process streams in an ethanol production process. The method comprises adding cellulase enzymes to a biomass feedstock that is fermented to produce ethanol, generating whole stillage and thin stillage streams from the post-fermentation biomass, and adding an additional enzyme or enzyme cocktail that reduces the viscosity of the whole stillage stream, thin stillage stream, concentrated thin stillage stream, and/or the syrup stream generated by evaporating the thin stillage.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2014Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: Edeniq, Inc.Inventors: Kristoffer Ramos, Donna Santos, Padmavathy Desai, Prachand Shrestha, Richard Root Woods
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Patent number: 8702910Abstract: A system for producing an auxiliary fuel stream containing a low concentration of sulfur compounds from a primary fuel stream includes a first separation stage to separate a portion of a primary fuel stream into a first vapor permeate stream and a first retentate stream, a first separation stage partial condenser connected to the first vapor permeate stream condensing a portion of the first vapor permeate stream into a first liquid stage stream and a first vapor stage stream, and a second separation stage partial condenser condensing a portion of the first vapor stage stream into a second liquid stage. The stream may then be processed through a sorbent bed to effectively remove the sulfur compounds.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2008Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Intelligent Energy, Inc.Inventors: Kandaswamy Duraiswamy, Richard Root Woods
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Patent number: 8609874Abstract: Processes and methods of recovering desired products from fermentation stillage are presented, including processes and methods of recovering lipids and aqueous materials.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2012Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Edeniq, Inc.Inventors: Richard Root Woods, Vahik Krikorian, Juston Smithers
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Patent number: 8551197Abstract: A hydrogen generation system is disclosed that includes an integrated steam reforming reactor. The reactor has an overall cylindrical shape, receives a reformate and separately receiving a combustion gas mixture. The reactor includes a plurality of reforming stages arranged in a stacked series of disc shaped stage configuration, wherein each reforming stage has a disc shaped combustion portion adjacent a disc shaped catalyst pack through which the reformate passes, wherein the reformate is directed axially between stages and radially within each stage; and the combustion mixture is directed radially between groups of stages and circumferentially within each stage.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2006Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: Intelligent Energy, Inc.Inventors: Richard Root Woods, Brook Forest Porter, Kandaswamy Duraiswamy, Leonard Weschta, Christian Hulteberg
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Patent number: 8372170Abstract: A hydrogen generation system is disclosed that has a vaporization section receiving and vaporizing fuel along with water and passing the vapor to a reformer catalyst section heated by a combustor section which generates reformate gas and is fueled by off-gas from a H2 purification unit along with a combustion air source. The off-gas outlet feeds the combustor section in the reformer assembly to heat the catalyst section and the vaporization section. An H2 storage unit connected to the H2 purification unit pure H2 outlet receives the pure H2. The storage unit has an outlet selectively connectable to the reformer assembly process inlet during startup without the need for a spark igniter.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2010Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: Intelligent Energy, Inc.Inventors: Richard Root Woods, Brook Forest Porter, Kandaswamy Duraiswamy
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Publication number: 20130023682Abstract: Processes and methods of recovering desired products from fermentation stillage are presented, including processes and methods of recovering lipids and aqueous materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2012Publication date: January 24, 2013Applicant: Primafuel, Inc.Inventors: Richard Root Woods, Vahik Krikorian, Juston Smithers
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Patent number: 8236977Abstract: Processes and methods of recovering desired products from fermentation stillage are presented, including processes and methods of recovering lipids and aqueous materials.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2011Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: PrimafuelInventors: Richard Root Woods, Vahik Krikorian, Juston Smithers
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Patent number: 8152872Abstract: The thermal reformer system (1) is provided that compromises a planar assembly including a reformer zone (5), a combustion zone (6), and various inlet and outlet manifolds with associated fluid flow passages (11, 20). The reformer system further compromises an inlet combustion fluid flow passage (31) connecting an inlet combustion fluid manifold (30) and the combustion zone (6), and an outlet combustion fluid flow passage (41) connecting the combustion zone (6) and the outlet combustion fluid manifold (40). In the thermal reformer system the heat transfer and recuperation from outlet fluid flows is efficiently transferred to inlet fluid flows, in order to minimize heat loss and insulation requirements.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2005Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Intelligent Energy, Inc.Inventors: Richard Root Woods, Brook F. Porter, Rahul Iyer, Leonard M. Weschta
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Patent number: 8137527Abstract: Methods and apparatus for collecting/concentrating carbon dioxide are disclosed. In addition, methods and apparatus for utilizing collected carbon dioxide in biofuel production and biomass cultivation are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2009Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: Primafuel, Inc.Inventor: Richard Root Woods
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Publication number: 20110275845Abstract: Processes and methods of recovering desired products from fermentation stillage are presented, including processes and methods of recovering lipids and aqueous materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2011Publication date: November 10, 2011Applicant: Primafuel, Inc.Inventors: Richard Root Woods, Vahik Krikorian, Juston Smithers
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Patent number: 7763086Abstract: A hydrogen generation system is disclosed that includes a fuel reforming reactor generating a hydrogen-rich reformate gas at a temperature greater than 150 C, a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) hydrogen purification unit that separates the reformate gas into a relatively pure hydrogen stream and an off-gas stream, and a catalytic reactor down stream of the PSA unit that converts carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2) contained in the relatively pure hydrogen stream into methane (CH4) and water vapor (H2O). The method of purification involves generating a hydrogen-rich reformate gas at a temperature greater than 150 C in a fuel reforming reactor, separating the reformate gas into a relatively pure hydrogen stream and an off-gas stream in a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) hydrogen purification unit, and converting carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2) contained in the relatively pure hydrogen stream into methane (CH4) and water vapor (H2O) in a catalytic reactor down stream of the PSA unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2008Date of Patent: July 27, 2010Assignee: Intelligent Energy, Inc.Inventors: Richard Root Woods, Brook Forest Porter, Kandaswamy Duraiswamy
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Publication number: 20100172827Abstract: A hydrogen generation system is disclosed that has a vaporization section receiving and vaporizing fuel along with water and passing the vapor to a reformer catalyst section heated by a combustor section which generates reformate gas and is fueled by off-gas from a H2 purification unit along with a combustion air source. The off-gas outlet feeds the combustor section in the reformer assembly to heat the catalyst section and the vaporization section. An H2 storage unit connected to the H2 purification unit pure H2 outlet receives the pure H2. The storage unit has an outlet selectively connectable to the reformer assembly process inlet during startup without the need for a spark igniter.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2010Publication date: July 8, 2010Inventors: Richard Root Woods, Brook Forest Porter, Kandaswamy Duraiswamy
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Patent number: 7670587Abstract: A hydrogen generation system is disclosed that has a vaporization section receiving and vaporizing fuel along with water and passing the vapor to a reformer catalyst section heated by a combustor section which generates reformate gas and is fueled by off-gas from a H2 purification unit along with a combustion air source. The off-gas outlet feeds the combustor section in the reformer assembly to heat the catalyst section and the vaporization section. An H2 storage unit connected to the H2 purification unit pure H2 outlet receives the pure H2. The storage unit has an outlet selectively connectable to the reformer assembly process inlet during startup without the need for a spark igniter.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2006Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: Intelligent Energy, Inc.Inventors: Brook Forest Porter, Kandaswamy Duraiswamy, Richard Root Woods
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Publication number: 20090220394Abstract: A hydrogen generation system is disclosed that includes an integrated steam reforming reactor. The reactor has an overall cylindrical shape, receives a reformate and separately receiving a combustion gas mixture. The reactor includes a plurality of reforming stages arranged in a stacked series of disc shaped stage configuration, wherein each reforming stage has a disc shaped combustion portion adjacent a disc shaped catalyst pack through which the reformate passes, wherein the reformate is directed axially between stages and radially within each stage; and the combustion mixture is directed radially between groups of stages and circumferentially within each stage.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2006Publication date: September 3, 2009Applicant: INTELLIGENT ENERGY, INC.Inventors: Richard Root Woods, Brook Forest Porter, Kandaswamy Duraiswamy, Leonard Weschta, Christian Hulteberg
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Publication number: 20090166264Abstract: A system for producing an auxiliary fuel stream containing a low concentration of sulfur compounds from a primary fuel stream includes a first separation stage to separate a portion of a primary fuel stream into a first vapor permeate stream and a first retentate stream, a first separation stage partial condenser connected to the first vapor permeate stream condensing a portion of the first vapor permeate stream into a first liquid stage stream and a first vapor stage stream, and a second separation stage partial condenser condensing a portion of the first vapor stage stream into a second liquid stage. The first vapor permeate stream is preferable sent through a vapor phase reactive desulfurization catalyst reactor to condition any sulfur compounds present into species that can be easily separated from the fuel stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2008Publication date: July 2, 2009Inventors: Kandaswamy Duraiswamy, Richard Root Woods
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Publication number: 20090041641Abstract: A hydrogen generation system is disclosed that includes a fuel reforming reactor generating a hydrogen-rich reformate gas at a temperature greater than 150 C., a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) hydrogen purification unit that separates the reformate gas into a relatively pure hydrogen stream and an off-gas stream, and a catalytic reactor down stream of the PSA unit that converts carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2) contained in the relatively pure hydrogen stream into methane (CH4) and water vapor (H2O). The method of purification involves generating a hydrogen-rich reformate gas at a temperature greater than 150 C. in a fuel reforming reactor, separating the reformate gas into a relatively pure hydrogen stream and an off-gas stream in a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) hydrogen purification unit, and converting carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2) contained in the relatively pure hydrogen stream into methane (CH4) and water vapor (H2O) in a catalytic reactor down stream of the PSA unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2008Publication date: February 12, 2009Applicant: Intelligent Energy, Inc.Inventors: Richard Root Woods, Brook Forest Porter, Kandaswamy Duraiswamy